Division: Sens Bolster For Playoff Push

Yesterday afternoon the Ottawa Senators and Carolina Hurricanes converged on what would be considered a blockbuster deal by this season's standards. Patrick Eaves and Joe Corvo were both sent to Carolina for Stanley Cup veterans Cory Stillman and Mike Commodore. Eaves will be a restricted free agent at season's end while Corvo still has two years left on his contract at $2.75 million a copy. Since Ottawa is making a playoff push, they felt they needed to improve their toughness, experience, leadership and secondary scoring; they did all of the above with this one transaction. I really feel that Ottawa made out like a bandit with this deal; Joe Corvo's contract is now erased from the books which will allow them more freedom to sign impending RFA Antoine Vermette as well as removing oft-injured Patrick Eaves. Since both of the players Ottawa received will be unrestricted free agents at season's end, they have no allegiance to them and they may walk after this year. In conclusion, Carolina got younger while improving their powerplay and Ottawa bolstered their playoff hopes but at the same time improved their chances of locking up key pieces to the Ottawa puzzle in the long term. Kudos to both general managers, in my opinion.